Lubricant cooling means for sewing machines



May 1, 1962 H. HACKLANDER LUBRICANT COOLING MEANS-FOR SEWING MACHINESFiled June 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hans Hack/under WITNESSAT TORNE Y H. HACKLANDER LUBRICANT COOLING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINESFiled June 2'7, 1958 May 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HansHack/under Fig.2 BY

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United States Patent 3,031,991 LUBRIGANT; COOLING 'MEANS" FOR'SEWINGMACHINES ansrrI-Iacklanden-Warren *Township,-:N.J.,' assignor to The-Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, NJ., a-vcorporationof New.Jersey Filed June .27, 1958, SenNo. 745,065 4 Claims] (Cl. 1 1 2256)Thepresent invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to alubricant cooling means for sewing machines.

In modern high speed industrial sewing machines which operate at speedsupwardly of 5,000. stitches per minute, the agitation of thelubricant inthe bed of the machine causes excessive heating of the lubricant whichnecessitates the use of a lubricant cooling means. However, these. highoperating speeds ,are attained only in a socalled straight-away, sewingmachine, or in other words, in a sewing machine which produces a limitednumber of lines of stitching such as one or two, or does not haveauxiliary mechanism such as a rufliing mechanism, a differential orother auxiliary feeding mechanism, a trimming mechanism or a thread.laying mechanism. When a machineis so equipped, the additional load ofthe mechanism limits the machine to a relatively loW maximum operatingspeed. At the same time, the mechanics 'andjinertia of the mechanismsasfwell as the fact that greater manipulation of the work and skill isrequired in operating a sewing machine .having the auxiliary mechanismsmakes it impractical to operate such a machine at an extremely highspeed. In such a machine an oil cooling means therefore is; unnecessaryand since it'would constitute an itemof expensewithout serving acompensating function, would beundesirable.

In my copending application Serial No; 609,836, filed September 14,1956, now, Patent No. 2,976,831, granted .March 28, 1961, there isdisclosed a universal sewing machine which is designed to be fitted tosew either a single line of stitching or a plurality of lines ofstitching and to be fitted with a number of different attachmentmechanisms that can be used selectively for any specific sewingoperation. Whenfitted for a high speed straightaway ,sewing operationoverheating of the lubricant in this machinebecomes a problem andrequires a lubricant cooling means whereas when fitted for otheroperations which are performed/at slower operating sp eeds, this problemdoesnot exist. 7 Therefore, to begtruly universal, the machine mustbeadapted to be ,provided with an effective lubricant cooling means whenrequired andalso to be provided without alubricant coolingmeans when itis not required.- The ,machinemust also be adapted to have,a lubri cantcoolingmeans subsequently added to it orremovedfrom' it if it is laterconverted."

In ;accordance with the 3pm,, the, objectof thisinvention is to providea lubricant cooling means for a sewingmaehine that can be selectivelyapplied to the machine when reqiredf It is also an object ofthisinventiofn-to provide a lubricant cooling means 'which'is such thattheprovision on the machine'for accommodating the same isre latiyelysimplesothat it will not have an appreciable" eifect upon themanufacturing cost of the machiiie and 'therefore, costwise, will'notburden the machinewhen a lubricant cooling'ineans is not required. It'isa fuither'objectof this-invention to provide a lubri: cant cooling meansin which the provision on the sewing mae 'inerqi accommodating it cah bereadilyand econeniicallyQsealed when the machine is not fitted with alubricant cooling means." It is also an object of this in vht'ion 'top'rovide a lubricant cool ing means which can be readily applied to andremoved from the' machine, is very stable and durable, efiici'ent, 1 anddependable having 7 3,031,991 Patented May 1, 1952 ice in mind the heavydemands placed upon industrial sewing machines, and which is relativelyeconomical not only in itself but also in the required supporting meansand in the connections with the machine.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from anunderstandingof this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices,combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth insuchdetail as to enable those skilled in art readily to understand thefunction, operation, construction and advantages of it when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view'of a sewing machine together with itsdrive means and supporting structure, andfhaving a lubricant coolingmeans in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a staggered vertical sectional view transversely of themachine of FIG. 1 and illustrating the mounting of the lubricant coolingmeans and the connections with the bed of the sewing machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on theline 33 of FIG. 2.

With reference to the drawings, there is illustrated a sewing machine 1that is substantially as disclosed in my above noted prior applicationSerial No. 609,836; to which reference may be had for a detaileddescription thereof. The machine 1 is herein disclosed only insofar asis necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

The sewing machine 1 includes a hollow frame comprising a bed 2 from theone end of which rises '21 standard'S that carries a bracket'arm 4terminating in a head 5 overhanging the bed 2. The hollow interior ofthe bed 2, FIG. 2, is closed by a bottorn'wall 6, a front wall 7 and arear wall 8 integral with and upstanding from the bottom wall 5, and agasketed oil-tight cover plate 9 to'define a closed splash lubricatedcompartment 2a. The operating mechanism Within the bed 2 includes a mainshaft 10 journaled longitudinally thereof and having a bevel gear 11that meshes'with a similar gear 12 on a looper drive shaft 13 iournaledtransversely of the bed. A' spur gear 14 is also mounted on themain'shaft 10 adjacent to the gear 1-1 and meshes with a similar gear 15on a feed actuating shaft 16 journaled in the bed 2 parallel to the mainshaft 19.

The sewing machine 2 is mounted upon a table top 17 and'is driven by anelectric power transmitter '18 mounted on the underside of the table top17. The transmitter 18 is as disclosed, for example, inthe patent ofIngalls, No. 2,739,251, March 20, l956',-to which reference may be-had.Insofar as concerns the present invention it is sufficient to note'thatthe transmitter 18 includes an internal cooling means Which draws airinto the same as indicatedby the arrows A'in FIG; 1 and ex hausts it asindicated by the arrows B.

The table top 17 is supported by a stand that includes two pairs ofupstanding legs 19 and 20. The right hand 'pair'of legs 2! comprises afront leg 21' and arear leg 22 which in the usual manner, are U-shapedin cross section and are formed of sheet metal. For vertical adjustment,the legs 21 and 22 are formed" in two-parts, the rear leg 22 having alower portion 23 and an'upper portion 24' that are'secured together invertically adjusted position "by a bolt 25 and acooperating nut 26, withthe bolt 25 extending through an aperture in the base web of the-lowerportion 23 and through a vertically elongatedslot 27 in the base web ofthe upper portion-24 The frontleg 21 comprises a lower portion 28 andanupper portion 29 that are secured together in vertically adjustedposition by'a bolt 30 and a cooperating nut 31 the bolt 30'extendingthrough an aperture in the base web of the low portion 28 andthrough avertically elongated slot 32 in the base web of the upper portion 29. Attheir upper ends, the upper sections 24 and 29 extend between and arespot welded to the depending webs of an inverted U-shaped top piece 33that is secured to the underside of the table top 17 by bolts as at 34and cooperating nuts 35. At an intermediate point, the legs 21 and 22are connected together by an inverted U-shaped cross piece 36 that atits ends extends between and are spot welded to the side webs of thelower portions 23 and 28.

A lubricant cooling radiator 37 is mounted on the right hand pair oflegs 20 in a position such that the exhaust which is indicated by thearrows B from the transmitter 18 will impinge upon it and thus cause acirculation of air around the radiator 37 to enhance the conduction ofheat therefrom. The radiator 37 is substantially rectangular and hascorrugated external surfaces as illustrated in FIG. 3 which serve toincrease the heat dissipating area. The top of the radiator 37 is closedby a gasketed oil-tight cover plate 38 that is secured by screws 39 andhas an oil filling aperture that is closed by a screw plug 49. A drainaperture which is closed by a screw plug 41 is provided in the bottom ofthe radiator 37.

For mounting the radiator 37 on the pair of legs 20, there are provideda pair of vertically arranged straps 42 which are secured to theradiator by screws 43 that extend through apertures in the straps 42 andare thread ed into bosses 44 on the inside of the radiator. At theirupper ends the straps 42 are secured to the outer depending web of thetop piece 33 by bolts 45 and cooperating nuts 46 while at their lowerends they are secured to the outer depending web of the cross piece 36by bolts 47 and cooperating nuts 48.

The radiator 37 is connected to the hollow interior of the bed 2 bymeans of a pair of flexible rubber tubes 49 and 50. The tube 49 whichconducts the heated lubricant from the bed 2 by means of a fitting 51including a nipple 52 having an axial bore 53 and a threaded end 54 thatis threaded through a tapped bore 54a in the bottom Wall 6 of the bed 2.The nipple 52 also includes a second externally threaded end 55 whichhas an annular slot 56 extending inwardly from the end thereof forreceiving the end of the tube 49 and in which it is secured and sealedby a wedge-shaped collar 57 that surrounds the tube 49 and is forcedinto the slot 56 by a nut 58 threaded onto the end 55 and having anintegral shoulder 59 for engaging the collar 57 and a second internalshoulder 66 for tightening the nut 58 against the end of the nipple 52.At its opposite end, the tube 49 is connected to the interior of theradiator 37 at the top thereof by a fitting 61 that is the same as thefitting 51.

Within the bed 2, there is press fitted Within the bore 53 of the nipple52, a vertically arranged standpipe 62 that rises to a point adjacent tothe cover plate 9 and constitutes a vertical extension of the tube 49within the lubricant chamber to close the tube to a point above thelevel of the lubricant in the compartment. An oil collecting plate orpan 63 is secured to a mounting bar 64 that is in turn secured to theunderside of the cover plate 9 and includes a spout 65 that communicateswith the top of the standpipe 62 for conducting lubricant deposited onthe plate 63 into the standpipe 62.

The tube 50' is connected at its opposite ends by fittings 66 and 67which are identical to the fitting 51, to the bottom Wall 6 of the bed 2and to the bottom of the radiator 37. The tube 59 conducts the cooledlubricant from the bottom of the radiator 37 and discharges it into thebottom of the bed 2.

During the operation of the machine, the bed 2 is filled with lubricantapproximately to the level indicated by the line 68 in FIG. 2, which isthe normal operating level, and the radiator 37 and the tubes 49 and 50are completely filled, When the machine is operated, parts of themechanism within the bed, for example, the gears 14 and 15 which arepartly immersed in the lubricant, agitate the lubricant to splashlubricate the mechanism within the bed. Some of the lubricant which isimpelled by the mechanism in the bed is deposited on the plate 63 and isdrained therefrom through the spout 65 into the standpipe 62. The levelof the lubricant in the standpipe 62 is thus raised above the level ofthe lubricant in the bed and a head is created which will force thelubricant down the tube 49 and into the top of the radiator 37 and atthe same time will force the cooled lubricant out of the bottom of theradiator 37 through the tube 50 and into the bottom of the bed 2.Because of the diiference in the specific gravity between the hotlubricant and the cooled lubricant, the cooled lubricant will tend toremain at the bottom in the bed 2 and thus force the hot lubricanttoward the surface. For the most part, it is the hot lubricant which isthrown onto the plate 63 and delivered to the radiator 37. Within theradiator 37, the hot lubricant will tend to remain at the top and willsettle to the bottom as it cools and as additional hot lubricant isdelivered to the radiator. Thus, only the cooled lubricant will passfrom the radiator 37 and through the tube 50 into the bottom of the bed2.

To accommodate a lubricant cooling means in accordance with the presentinvention, the sewing machine need be provided only with two tappedbores in the bottom wall 6 for receiving the fittings 51 and 66. Tomount the radiator 37, the stand is provided only with the apertures foraccommodating the bolts 45 and 47. When the machine is fitted for anoperation in which a lubricant cooling means is not required, it isnecessary only to close the bores in the bottom Wall 6 as by screwplugs. Thus, there is no appreciable expense in adapting the machine forthe use of the present lubricant cooling means. At the same time, thelubricant cooling means may be subsequently added to or removed from themachine in the event that it is converted so that a cooling meansbecomes either necessary or unnecessary as the case may be. Not only canthe radiator be readily mounted on the stand, but it is mounted for veryeffective cooling in that it is directly in the exhaust from thetransmitter 18.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

1. In combination, a support, a sewing machine mounted upon said supportand including a bed having a closed lubrication compartment adapted tobe filled with Inbricant to a normal operating level and havingoperating mechanism in said closed lubrication compartment with aportion thereof adapted to dip into the lubricant for agitating thelubricant and thereby splash lubricating the mechanism in saidcompartment, said bed including a bottom wall having two tappedapertures opening into said closed compartment, and lubricant coolingmeans comprising a radiator carried by said support, an outlet conduitand a return conduit, means comprising fittings having nipples threadedinto said apertures for securing one end of said conduits to and incommunication with said closed compartment, means for securing the otherend of said outlet conduit to and in communication with the top portionof said radiator, means for securing the other end of said returnconduit to and in communication with the bottom of said radiator, meanscomprising an extension of said outlet conduit for closing said outletconduit to a point above the level of the lubricant in said closedcompartment, and means within said closed compartment for directinglubricant impelled by said operating mechanism into said outlet conduit.

2. In combination, a support, a sewing machine mounted upon said supportand including a bed having a closed lubrication compartment adapted tobe filled with lubricant to a normal operating level and havingoperating mechanism in said closed compartment with a portion adapted todip into the lubricant for agitating the 111 bricant and thereby splashlubricating the mechanism in said compartment, said bed including abottom wall having two tapped apertures opening into said closedcompartment, and lubricant cooling means comprising a radiator carriedby said support, an outlet conduit and a return conduit, meanscomprising fittings having nipples threaded into said apertures forsecuring one end of said conduits to and in communication with saidclosed compartment, means for securing the other end of said outletconduit to and in communication with the top portion of said radiator,means for securing the other end of said return conduit to and incommunication with the bottom of said radiator, a standpipe within saidclosed compartment and connected to the fitting for said outlet conduitwith the upper end of said standpipe being disposed above the level ofthe lubricant in said closed compartment and the bottom of saidstandpipe being in open communication with said outlet conduit, andmeans within said closed compartment for directing lubricant impelled bysaid operating mechanism into the upper end of said standpipe.

3. In combination, a stand comprising a table top and opposed pairs oflegs at the opposite ends of said table top for supporting said tabletop, 'a sewing machine mounted upon said table top, said sewing machineincluding a bed having a closed lubrication compartment adapted to befilled with lubricant to a normal operating level and having operatingmechanism in said closed lubrication compartment with a portion thereofadapted to dip into the lubricant for agitating the lubricant andthereby splash lubricating the mechanism in said compartment, said bedincluding a bottom wall having two tapped apertures opening into saidclosed compartment, and lubricant cooling means comprising a radiatormounted upon the pair of legs at one end of said stand, an outletconduit and a return conduit, means comprising fittings having nipplesthreaded into said apertures for securing one end of said outlet conduitand one end of said return conduit to'and in communication with saidclosed compartment, means for securing the other end of said outletconduit to and in communication with the top of said radiator, means forsecuring the other end of said return conduit to and in communicationwith the bottom of said radiator, means comprising an extension of saidoutlet conduit for closing said outlet conduit to a point above thenormal operating level of the lubricant in said closed compartment, andmeans within said closed compartment for directing lubricant impelled bysaid operating mechanism into said outlet conduit.

4. In combination, a stand comprising a table top and opposed pairs oflegs at the opposite ends of said table topv for supporting said tabletop, a sewing machine mounted upon said table top, said sewing machineincluding a bed having a closed lubrication compartment adapted to befilled with lubricant to a normal operating level and having operatingmechanism in said closed lubrication compartment with a portion thereofadapted to dip into the lubricant for agitating the lubricant andthereby splash lubricating the mechanism in said compartment, said bedincluding a bottom wall having two tapped apertures opening into saidclosed compartment, drive means for said sewing machine comprising atransmitter mounted upon the underside of said table and having meansfor circulating cooling air through said transmitter, and lubricantcooling means comprising a radiator mounted upon the pair of legs at oneend of said stand and in position to be impinged upon by the exhaust ofthe cooling air from said transmitter, an outlet conduit and a returnconduit, means comprising fittings having nipples threaded into saidapertures for securing one end of said outlet conduit and one end ofsaid return conduit to and in communication with said closedcompartment, means for securing the other end of said outlet conduit toand in communication with the top of said radiator, means for securingthe other end of said return conduit to and in communication with thebottom of said radiator, means comprising an extension of said outletconduit for closing said outlet conduit to a point above the normaloperating level of the lubricant in said closed compartment, and meanswithin said closed compartment for directing lubricant impelled by saidoperating mechanism into said outlet conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,107,830 Ogden Aug. 18, 1914 1,698,386 Batdorf Jan. 8, 1929 1,922,508Terry Aug. 15, 1933 2,265,078 Marsh Dec. 2, 1941 2,451,873 Roebuck Oct.19, 1948 2,483,036 Christensen Sept. 27, 1949 2,589,120 OLeary Mar. 11,1952 2,720,087 Groene Oct. 11, 1955

